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Every year I say it and every year I mean it; I cannot believe we are already at the end of Advent and just a few days from Christmas. As I was looking through past homilies, it was easy to see where I ran out of steam…the 4th Sunday of Advent. In the past, it appears I had already mentally moved on to Christmas and put more energy into what I would say for the big holy day. But its not really fair that this final Sunday of preparation and waiting should get short shrift because much grace can still be given to us in these final moments of advent.
For our reflection this weekend, I would like to focus on the first sentence of the gospel we just heard. It is a phrase we probably glide right over but it has much to teach us about how Mary loved God and others, with a complete gift of her self.
St. Luke tells us that “Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.” From this simple account we learn three qualities about Mary’s love.
First of all, it was decisive. As soon as the angel Gabriel announced that she would be the mother of God and her cousin Elizabeth was with Child, Mary resolved to help her family member with what would have been a difficult pregnancy. Elizabeth was in her late 80’s when she had John the Baptist. The compassionate heart of Mary knew that her cousin needed help right away in order to welcome her miraculous child into the world. Never mind that she herself was pregnant and needing to have a very challenging and important conversation with Joseph. Mary saw the need of someone who needed her help and without waiting to be asked, away she went. This is the meaning of the phrase “in haste”. It doesn’t mean that she went off in a frantic rush, without thinking, and forgetting half of what she meant to take with her. No, it means there was no gap between May knowing this was the right thing to do and her actually doing it; her good intention and her loving action were connected by an unbroken string of grace and resolve.
The second quality of Mary’s love shown to us in this sentence is that it was steadfast. We are told she travelled to the hill country, which is synonymous with rough terrain, frequent elevation changes, and difficult roads. The distance between Mary’s home and Elizabeth’s village was roughly 100 miles and this would have been covered mostly, if not completely on foot. For reference, this would be like walking to Rolla, Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City, or Hannibal, Missouri as an expectant, teenage girl. Besides the physical toll it must have taken on the newly pregnant Virgin Mary, the path she took had many hidden dangers. The dirt path that wound through the mountainous region is believed to have been a popular place for bandits, who would victimize unsuspecting travelers. There must have been many times when Mary thought about turning around. If she had, no one would have blamed or thought less of her. But her care for Elizabeth, her capacity for sacrificial love, propelled her through the hill country and conquered every fear, obstacle, and difficulty.
The third quality of Mary’s love is that it was intentional and focussed. So often, our resolutions to love God and others remain vague, nearly impossible to quantify or hold ourselves accountable. Additionally, how often do we love others while distracted by many other things and preoccupied with less important concerns? We will say, “I want to be a better person or love others more, or think of myself less.” Good intentions for sure but how can we be sure that we are making progress or acting on the grace God is sending us? Mary was very specific and concrete and completely focused on her dear cousin. To go, without delay, to help until John the Baptist was born. To make sure Elizabeth had a safe delivery and all the help she needed as she experienced motherhood for the first time. Mary was completely present and available to serve Elizabeth for three months in her time of need. We can only imagine how grateful and humbled Elizabeth must have been as she received the love and care of Mary, even as Jesus was being formed in the Virgin’s womb. Mary’s love for Elizabeth was practical, selfless, and centered on her cousin. She wasn’t simply multi-tasking, helping her because it was convenient, or serving some ulterior motive.
As we sneak up on another Christmas, we have the chance to examine our own ways of loving. Do we have the heart of Mary with its decisive, steadfast, and focused qualities? Perhaps we are strong in one area but another aspect needs to be stretched to grow in grace? Far too often, our love is timid, fickle, indecisive and surrenders to selfishness when sacrifice is required. Mary provides an example that is both challenging and comforting, inspiring and convicting. She is here to help us learn to love like her. Just as she gave an example to Elizabeth on how to love God and love others, she will guide us too. Let us go in haste to her now so that our Christmas may be more like hers!
